Stanley Amandi, a Nollywood filmmaker and actor, has been arrested alongside some military officers over an alleged plot to violently overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Premium Times, Amandi—who is a director and former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Enugu State chapter—was arrested in September 2025, although details of his alleged involvement only recently became public.
Investigations revealed that the actor was allegedly recruited by the suspected coup plotters to serve as a propagandist in preparation for what security sources described as a planned violent takeover of government.
Government sources earlier briefed on the matter disclosed that the plot allegedly included plans to assassinate top government officials, among them President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
On Monday, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that investigations had uncovered a plan to illegally remove the Tinubu administration from power. It added that military officers implicated in the plot would be arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels.
In a statement, the military said investigations had been concluded and forwarded to the “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
“The comprehensive investigation, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel,” the statement said.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the findings identified “a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing such actions as inconsistent with the ethics and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
In October 2025, reports had emerged that 16 military officers were under investigation for allegedly planning a coup. The Nigerian Army at the time dismissed the reports, stating that the officers were being investigated for indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
However, further investigations reportedly led to the arrest of additional officers and civilians, including Amandi.
Sources familiar with the probe said the suspects would face court-martial proceedings and civil trials, depending on their status. While serving military personnel are expected to be tried by military tribunals, civilians implicated in the alleged plot—including the Nollywood actor—are to be prosecuted in civil courts.
Amandi is a notable figure in the Nigerian film industry, having worked as an actor, production manager, and director. His works include The Album (director), Tiger King (director and producer, 2008), Cornerstone (2019), and Once Upon a Dream (actor, 2024).
His last Instagram post was dated September 19, 2025, shortly before his arrest.
Alternative headlines you may also use:
- Defence HQ Confirms Coup Plot as Nollywood Actor, Military Officers Arrested
- Nollywood Filmmaker, Soldiers Arrested Over Alleged Plot to Overthrow Tinubu
- Actor Stanley Amandi Implicated in Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu Administration